Led · Series A · Mar 2025

GEM HEALTH operates GEM SLEEP, a nationwide virtual specialty clinic that delivers end-to-end care for obstructive sleep apnea, handling clinical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment setup, and ongoing support without in-person visits. Its telehealth model reduces time-to-care from months to days and is in-network with 53 million Americans' health plans while treating patients in all 50 states. Patients show strong retention: 70% continue treatment beyond 30 days compared with a national average of 40–50%. The company reports its approach saved patients and insurers nearly $15M in healthcare costs in 2024 and that the business grew 7x in 2024. With the new capital GEM HEALTH plans to rapidly expand virtual sleep services, develop additional patient solutions, and enter new markets and conditions. Founder and CEO Brian Sauer leads the company as it scales its outcomes-driven, insurance-accessible model to reach more people with sleep apnea. Gem Specialty Health offers GEM SLEEP, a digital solution that simplifies diagnosis, treatment, and support for sleep conditions including obstructive sleep apnea. The company provides an on-demand, personalized digital care path intended to remove barriers to diagnosis and treatment. GEM SLEEP is available to patients in 48 states plus Washington, D.C. Gem plans to use recent capital to expand coverage through additional health plans and to expand reimbursement options through health plans and employers. Gem was founded in 2022 by Brian Sauer and operates as a nationwide specialty care clinic focused on sleep health. The company has raised over $5 million to date.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2024

Vita Health delivers clinically validated suicide-prevention care management via telehealth, and also offers teletherapy and psychiatry for broader behavioral health conditions. Its care pathways are based on the founding team’s clinical trials published in JAMA and The American Journal of Psychiatry and thousands of patient encounters. Those trials and encounters demonstrated reductions in suicide attempts by more than 60% and deaths by up to 80%. The company was founded by a consortium of suicide risk experts and behavioral health innovators and has expanded its mission to address the youth mental health crisis, including anxiety and depression. Vita Health is building relationships with health plans, provider partners, employers, colleges, and universities to expand access. The company plans to use new funding to support rapid nationwide expansion of its life-saving services for youth and adults.

Led · Series B · Oct 2016

eMindful provides globally scalable, research-backed live, online applied mindfulness programs delivered through live online classrooms taught by licensed health professionals. Its programs specifically address stress and resilience, metabolic syndrome, chronic pain, diabetes, tobacco usage and cancer. The company's technology-enabled solutions are marketed to corporations, managed care organizations and third-party administrators. eMindful leverages research collaborations with institutions including Vanderbilt University, Harvard Medical School, Chatham University, University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary. Led by CEO Kelley McCabe Ruff, the company intends to use recent financing to accelerate engagement marketing, new product development and sales expansion. The company closed a $6.85M Series B round of financing. eMindful delivers evidence-based wellness and disease-management programs through live, online classrooms where participants can see, hear, talk and chat with instructors and peers. Its curriculum incorporates mindfulness practices and includes courses such as MBSR, Mindfulness at Work, QuitSmart® Mindfully and Weight Balance for Life. The company says its programs have been validated by research led by Aetna and Duke Integrative Medicine and has trained thousands of participants. Early customers include Aetna, Humana, Healthy Business Group, Florida Power and Light, Kaiser Permanente, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the State of Arizona. eMindful has received industry recognition, including a joint innovation recognition with Aetna from the National Business Group on Health in 2012 and a "Florida Companies to Watch" award. Leadership has positioned the company to grow in both the corporate and consumer markets, and the firm is headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla. eMindful provides specialized, comprehensive, evidence-based health and wellness programs delivered through live online classrooms taught by licensed health professionals, including physicians and psychotherapists. Its technology-enabled solutions are designed to prevent, mitigate, and slow progression of diseases linked to family, work and lifestyle risk factors. The company delivers programs to corporations, managed care organizations, and third-party administrators. eMindful has partnered with Duke University Health System to develop curricula grounded in demonstrated research and recently completed a randomized controlled trial of a stress-reduction program with Duke and a customer, Aetna; Aetna’s review of medical-claims data showed a positive correlation between costs and study participants’ stress levels. The company is based in Vero Beach, Florida. MBF Healthcare Partners has acquired a minority equity interest and will work with management to expand eMindful’s products, services, and customer base.

Led · Series A · Jan 2016

The Big Know provides a digital learning platform that allows brands and organizations to create designed online courses. Led by founder and CEO Don Smithmier and based in Minneapolis, MN, the company partners with organizations to produce sponsored course content. Its first courses were sponsored by UnitedHealthcare and AARP’s Life Reimagined, and it is releasing new courses including a happiness course by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky and a longevity course by Dan Buettner. The company raised $3M in Series A funding to accelerate talent and technology capabilities. The focus is on expanding course offerings and strengthening technology and team resources to support branded online learning.